turkeytalker
03-06-2008, 11:10 PM
Looks like Beshear is building his constituency to me.
http://www.newsenterpriseonline.com/articles/2008/03/05/news/news04.txt
News
Beshear makes restoring felon voting rights easier
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 8:23 PM CST
Advocates talk of more to come
By BOB WHITE
FRANKFORT — By removing several hurdles a convicted felon must cross before his or her right to vote is restored, Gov. Steve Beshear simplified the process Tuesday with an executive order. Effective immediately, felons who have fulfilled their sentences no longer must pay a fee, write an essay, solicit recommendations or have multiple prosecutors notified before their voting rights are returned.
Beshear described former Gov. Ernie Fletcher’s previous application process as “unwieldy and time-consuming.”
“It essentially discourages or defeats inmates’ efforts to restore that right,” Beshear said.
With Beshear’s simplified process, a felon fills out a single application available through Kentucky’s Department of Corrections. That application is sent to the governor’s office after input from a prosecutor.
The governor decides whether to restore the felon’s voting rights.
“It’s important for people to realize there still is a thumbs-up, thumbs-down decision to be made,” said Stan Holmes, vice president of Kentucky’s Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials and a Radcliff city councilman.
Holmes and other voting rights advocates applauded Beshear’s simplification of the procedure.
Teena Halbig, president of League of Women Voters of Kentucky, said the previously mandated essay procedure deterred felons from applying for voting rights.
Eighty-three percent of felons who had applied for restored rights were found to be incapable of composing the essay Fletcher desired, she said.
The three recommendations mandated under the previous policy also placed a burden on felons wanting to vote.
“It was difficult for them to ask,” Halbig said. “People may not want to tell their coworkers or anyone of a felony conviction.”
Others echoed Halbig’s statement with harsher words.
Bill Sheckles, 2006 KBC-LEO president and a Bardstown city councilman, said Fletcher’s procedure disenfranchised many young black men and removed a whole section of the population wanting to vote.
“It was a culture policy to keep certain people in certain places,” Sheckles said.
The KBC-LEO is a proponent of complete and automatic restoration of rights for one-time offenders of nonviolent, non-sex-oriented crimes.
Holmes said the simplification of restoring rights was “a step in the right direction” for his group’s cause.
Halbig agreed, calling Beshear’s action a “chipping away” and a “shining light.”
Beshear’s action applies to all classes of felons.
During the press conference where Beshear announced his executive order, reporters peppered him with questions about pending legislation relating to automated restoration of voting rights.
House Bill 70, proposing automatic restoration of voting rights for felons who have fulfilled their sentences, has seen numerous amendments since it was proposed. Many of those amendments restrict what class of felons would have voting rights automatically restored.
Halbig, who was present during the conference, said Beshear was warm to the idea behind HB 70.
Along with his announcement on the simplified process, Beshear spoke about his desire for a review of Kentucky’s penal code. The goal of the review would be 2009 legislation addressing the state’s exploding inmate population and to “bring some sense into this system,” he said.
In 2007, Kentucky’s inmate population increased at a higher rate than any other state.
Department of Public Advocacy Executive Adviser Dawn Jenkins said a cultural change is needed before the inmate population can decrease.
Kentuckians need to change their opinions on what it means to be a felon, Jenkins said.
KBC-LEO leaders agreed.
Since felons in Kentucky are limited where they can work, their ability to vote, their eligibility for public housing and what professional licenses they may possess, Holmes said one-time criminals are oppressed for a lifetime.
“People are suffering. This gives them reason to go back to their old ways,” Holmes said. “But if someone has paid their dues, shouldn’t we allow them to integrate back into society?”
Raw data from the Administrative Office of the Courts reflects that more than 178,000 felons are one-time offenders.
Halbig said no less than 129,000 of those could soon have the right to vote because of Beshear’s simplification of the procedure to have their voting rights restored.
“We’re exhilarated with the governor’s changes,” she said. “I’ve had felons call me and tell me they cry on Election Day because they feel un-American. These people are Americans.”
http://www.newsenterpriseonline.com/articles/2008/03/05/news/news04.txt
News
Beshear makes restoring felon voting rights easier
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 8:23 PM CST
Advocates talk of more to come
By BOB WHITE
FRANKFORT — By removing several hurdles a convicted felon must cross before his or her right to vote is restored, Gov. Steve Beshear simplified the process Tuesday with an executive order. Effective immediately, felons who have fulfilled their sentences no longer must pay a fee, write an essay, solicit recommendations or have multiple prosecutors notified before their voting rights are returned.
Beshear described former Gov. Ernie Fletcher’s previous application process as “unwieldy and time-consuming.”
“It essentially discourages or defeats inmates’ efforts to restore that right,” Beshear said.
With Beshear’s simplified process, a felon fills out a single application available through Kentucky’s Department of Corrections. That application is sent to the governor’s office after input from a prosecutor.
The governor decides whether to restore the felon’s voting rights.
“It’s important for people to realize there still is a thumbs-up, thumbs-down decision to be made,” said Stan Holmes, vice president of Kentucky’s Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials and a Radcliff city councilman.
Holmes and other voting rights advocates applauded Beshear’s simplification of the procedure.
Teena Halbig, president of League of Women Voters of Kentucky, said the previously mandated essay procedure deterred felons from applying for voting rights.
Eighty-three percent of felons who had applied for restored rights were found to be incapable of composing the essay Fletcher desired, she said.
The three recommendations mandated under the previous policy also placed a burden on felons wanting to vote.
“It was difficult for them to ask,” Halbig said. “People may not want to tell their coworkers or anyone of a felony conviction.”
Others echoed Halbig’s statement with harsher words.
Bill Sheckles, 2006 KBC-LEO president and a Bardstown city councilman, said Fletcher’s procedure disenfranchised many young black men and removed a whole section of the population wanting to vote.
“It was a culture policy to keep certain people in certain places,” Sheckles said.
The KBC-LEO is a proponent of complete and automatic restoration of rights for one-time offenders of nonviolent, non-sex-oriented crimes.
Holmes said the simplification of restoring rights was “a step in the right direction” for his group’s cause.
Halbig agreed, calling Beshear’s action a “chipping away” and a “shining light.”
Beshear’s action applies to all classes of felons.
During the press conference where Beshear announced his executive order, reporters peppered him with questions about pending legislation relating to automated restoration of voting rights.
House Bill 70, proposing automatic restoration of voting rights for felons who have fulfilled their sentences, has seen numerous amendments since it was proposed. Many of those amendments restrict what class of felons would have voting rights automatically restored.
Halbig, who was present during the conference, said Beshear was warm to the idea behind HB 70.
Along with his announcement on the simplified process, Beshear spoke about his desire for a review of Kentucky’s penal code. The goal of the review would be 2009 legislation addressing the state’s exploding inmate population and to “bring some sense into this system,” he said.
In 2007, Kentucky’s inmate population increased at a higher rate than any other state.
Department of Public Advocacy Executive Adviser Dawn Jenkins said a cultural change is needed before the inmate population can decrease.
Kentuckians need to change their opinions on what it means to be a felon, Jenkins said.
KBC-LEO leaders agreed.
Since felons in Kentucky are limited where they can work, their ability to vote, their eligibility for public housing and what professional licenses they may possess, Holmes said one-time criminals are oppressed for a lifetime.
“People are suffering. This gives them reason to go back to their old ways,” Holmes said. “But if someone has paid their dues, shouldn’t we allow them to integrate back into society?”
Raw data from the Administrative Office of the Courts reflects that more than 178,000 felons are one-time offenders.
Halbig said no less than 129,000 of those could soon have the right to vote because of Beshear’s simplification of the procedure to have their voting rights restored.
“We’re exhilarated with the governor’s changes,” she said. “I’ve had felons call me and tell me they cry on Election Day because they feel un-American. These people are Americans.”